Vamp and sole connection



Sept. 25, i951 J, P. TARBOX 2,568,974

VANP ANO SOLE CONNECTION Original Filed April 25, 1945 Patented Sept. 25, n1951 UNITED STATES' PATENT oFFlcE z ,sesfsv'i 5 VAMP AND'SOLE CONNECTION John P. Tarbdx, Philadelphia, Pa.

Original application April 25, 1945, Serial No.

589,722. Divided and this application May 20, 1947, Serial No. '749,290

, 1 This application is a division o f my copending application S. N. 589,722 led April A23, 1945, which has matured into Patent No. 2,452,502, granted October 26, 1948.

. The shoe construction of vmy invention is that type in which the shoe is opened and closed for fastening about the f oot of the wearer by a hinge movement between the heel and the Vamp portions. This type of shoehas hitherto been prol posed .in the art several times but has failed in practical adoption because the construction was impractical.

According to my invention I have completely revised the general construction of the shoe with a view to attaining these practicabilities to a high degree. In so doing I utilize molded plastic material to a considerable extent. vAmong the many moldable plastic materials known to the art at the time this .application Was led andat the time of applicants invention there are a number which possess or approach those degrees of toughness and wear resistance possessed by leather and rubber, the materials commonly used in making shoes. Rubber is a moldable plastic material in many of its forms and has long been used inm'ak-v ing shoes. In the art of synthetic moldablefplastics, including those having a silica base, notonly have there been produced qualities of plastic which has actually been used in the Vmaking of shoes as has rubber, but also theshoes so pro-f duced have actually been marketed. Applicant contemplates using in his shoeY construction any plastic whatsoever which possesses those characteristics needful for use in shoes to such degree that they are suitable for the purpose, forexam ple, the plastic contemplated by Pym in U. S.` Patent No. 2,349,374.

In the vamp portion I form as one molded unit the inner sole and the toe, a part of the outerv sole, and a part of the hinge joint. In the heel portion I form it entirely of moldedv plastic ma. terial. These changes in materials'and construction enable me to improve the nature of the jointi in general between the vamp portion and the heel portion of the shoe as hinged thereto, including improvements in the heel joint itself andthe securing means utilized in connection with the'heel joint. They also enable me to apply readily removable and replaceable heel and sole portions.

All of these things and the various and sundry details of construction are delineated in the vfollowing drawings and described in the annexedv specification.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe;

Figure 2 is a cross-section o n line 2-2 in a vertical plane of the hinge joint between'y the heel and toe portions;

` Figure 3 is a transverse section ofthesolejust' behind the toe portion;`

' A2` claims; (ci. :ie-i2) e the heel portion generally II.

Figure 4 is a similar transverse section along the line 4-4 near the rear edge of the molded toe;

Figure 5 is a section of the toe portion of the removable sole on line 5-5 of Figure 1 in the di rection of the arrows, showing a form of the front attaching clip; l

Figure 6 is a view of the bottom of the sole. showing in plan form the rear attaching clip of the removable sole; and

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the toe portion of the shoe showing a modified form of front attaching clip.

The vamp portion is designated generally Il,

The general division between the vamp and the heel portions is transversely of the shoe in the general vicinity of the front wall I6 of the heel per se I3 of the shoe. The two portions are hinged together on an axis;

; I4 and the side ilexible walls I5of the heel por-1 tion overlap outwardly the side walls I2 of the vamp portion in this region. The arrangement is such that when the heel portion is freed of; means I1 and I8 (presently to be described) which keep it about the foot of the wearer it may be moved downwardly with respect to the vamp portion I0 approximately 90 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

'Ilie vamp portion I0 is built about a sole I9. This sole I9 is of molded plastic material. It,A comprises a heavy, relatively rigid afterpart 2l, a relatively thin and flexible intermediate part 2|` (in the region of the ball of the foot), and a rela tively thicker and less flexible toe part 22. Molded integrally with the toe part 22 of the sole is the whole toe proper of the shoe 23, which is shaped precisely as required for the nished shoe toe; both inside' and outside. It is preferably of heavy, cross-section at the front and at the sides and top the section is gradually reduced to thinly taperedn margins 24. Just beneath and in front ofthepoint of the toe the toe portion 22 is extended at4 25 to receive the renewable sole, as will presently' be described. Integrally formed with the heavy and relatively rigid rear end 20 of the sole is a.: central hinge ear 26 of a width suiliciently less. than the gross width of the sole in this region to accommodate hinge ears formed on the heel por-iI tion II. I

The vamp proper of the shoe comprises walls I2 and may be constructed of any suitable ilexible material as leather, cloth, rubber and the like. Its general construction and form insofar as itvcovers the region of the shoe between thev'toe proper 23 and the line of division betwee'nfthe vamp and heel portions I0 and II is of the same contour and extent as usually employed inshoes." Too, it is provided in its center with the usuall divided top 21 tied together adjustably by strings 28; `Its means of securement to the toeproper and sole, however, are quite different from those usually employed.` The sole I9 has its under margins ralibetedat29V and the flexible walls I2 of the vamp are brought .down over' the outer' edges of the sole 2| and cemented in the rabbet 29 beneath the sole, cement being applied to the lateral edges as well if desired, thusiaffordingia strong bond which is stressed in shear. At the front the vamp is overlapped outwardly-upon5 the tapered rear margin 24 of the itoe 23- and cey y walls -in this rear region of the vamp-portion'- constitute an effective downwardly and'v rearwardly stressed tie to the sole against which the tension of thelstr-ings 28iare exerted to-keep the? vamp portion smoothly pulled over the instep Secured removably beneath the toe portion 22 andthe-adjoining iiexible portion 2|- offtlie'sole' is the removable and replaceable outer sole33. This soleis of varyingcross-section. longitudinelly; lthickest in its-` central portion under-the ball ofA the foot and the thin portion of sole I9, where itis subjectedv to greatest wear, and ofldecreasing thicknesstoward its opposite ends -beneaththe' thickersole portions 2U and' 221 It: is flexible and preferablyelastic to a considerable degree. At'its front end there is riveted-to ita metallicclip Stof-curvilinear plan form (see Figi. andy channel cross-section which fits ov'er'the correspondingly curvilinear front end projection orterminus- 25 of the-sole in such afmanneras tohold the front end' of sole 33 tightly up against' tl'ie'under -face of Ysole portion 221 Its rear end has similarly riveted to it a metallic-ho'oklf35! of`a widthv approaching but not equal to' the widthl of sole Ill-at this point. This" clip-meets witha complemental' clip36 of' similar form andsomewha'tl greater width riveted toV soleT I9.v Clips 35' and 3E,- asshown inFigure 6,inte`rlockwhen in engagement,36 being provided with small' nibs 31 ati each end over which 35 mayfslide, and-be-` tween which itsockets. Theouter sole='33"is='con' siderably wider than the inner sole throughout: the regions to which it is applied-its roundedprojecting. edges=y 38'.providing the plan form'outerf most contour. of. the. shoe. Each; of these .prof jecting edges 38 is. provided adjoiningthe'vamp; wall: I2V with an upwardly projectingeand'.close-l fitting ribV 39, the two ribs 3Sfbeingiadapted.closely` to embrace the lower outer corners ofvampi |2 and sole |91 between them when the y sole' is stretched in place. The relative. dimensions Iof.. the parts and the relative rigidities, flexibilities and elasticities of the component parts'and-por.- tions are such that when clip 34 is entered .over theprojecting. frontend 25 of therinner solei` I9, theouter: soler may bepulled rearwardly\and.- at thesame time clipjr35 entered laterally ovverynfibl- 3l at one end of clip 35. Thesolegsmaythen be: pushed laterally under the vampportionLclip-Vf entering clip SI5-fully andbecoming seatedsbetween the nibs 3'|y and ribs 39- slippingfoneljon either side of vamp walls I2 and sole I9 tofsnugly socket themselvesinto place. So attached sole' 33:15 retained under its own stress. comb,inedlwitliv` such. stress asfis .irnposedvupon coactingi ,portions ofthe sole |91 The heel portion II, as has been remarked, is moldedpentirely of plastic material. Upon the fuorepartf |6,of theheel perse I3 are formed hinge ears"4||spaced apart and of dimensions to receive snugly between them the coacting hinge ear 26 integrally formed on the sole portion 20, jtogvunderliejthelaterally overhanging parts of sole part beneath the vamp wall receiving rabbets l29', and tofo'rm frontal extensions of the outer sidegwalls of the heel per se I3.

'-.Ihegl upper wallsf I 5'of the heel portion ex- 1 tend integrallyJ l.inwards from the top portion of the heel per se I3. These walls I5 are themselves lof varying cross-section and flexibility. At the `front they are purposely of thin cross-section andrelativelyveryiflexible; being! formed transverselyof` alcontour and.; dimension which enables f them tofiexAL outwardly under moderate pressure to' fit the sides of the foot as contouredrbyA the walls |2-ofthe-vamp. In` this region'walls I5 areextendedforwardly towardvthe toe of the'lv shoe* a considerable distance in advance of thef front of the:Y heel per se and the hinge axisll" in order that when the heel portion is moved to--itsdotted-line position the front margins 4| (see the dotted-line position) will overlap outwardly the rear margins 3| of the vamp walls I2, whereby the interior-exterior relations ofthe respective walls` I2, I5 are not changed whenl the shoeA is-openedto receive the foot. However, the walls I5' thicken up in section at their bottom regions and'A toward the rear or heel wall V42', becoming relatively thicker and stiffer, even rigid; at and toward the extreme rear. Vertically, how-f ever, inthe rear section', the walls I5 are progresf sively thinned and at the top margins 4'3y are' again'relatively 'thin-v andv flexible whereby to accommodate themselvesv morej agreeably and` com-- fortably, to the horizontal contoursof the foot. At thetopmarginlnthe edges'may be suitablyi roundedandjbeadedlfor further comfort. The heel per se I3 is lhollowedout; onitsundery si'de to the rear ofj axis |41 In its forepartjit is" hollowed .out complementally toV ab'uttingl'y receive"tlierearwardlyprojecting end 32 ofthe" sole: portionv l0'A against vthev fore-edge of 'its floor` portion' M'ina vertical'plane, whereby to^accu rately deflne the foot-enclosing position ofjthei h e'elfportionl II'with respectv to the vamp portion I0,'an`d to accurately maintain the' floor ,44' of".

th'eheelin alignment' with the oor 45 ofthe:

swung downwardly. Yet the retaining force. of"

the end of. the spring in` the notchffl!! such thatthe heel portion IIis retained in its jnormal positiony.algrmtY the footagainst the application. of`mo'de'ra't'e or ordinary forces ofdislodgement.. even itdesvired `under the most .severe dislodgigl forces'usually'encountered in wear. Supplementing this spring retainer I1; however, and' ofa nature to exert much stronger holding force, are permanent retaining means I8 previously referred to as located at the top edge of the shoe. These are in the form of exible leather or fabric strips 50 sewed to the top of the vamp near the rear edge 3| and following the top margins 43 of the heel walls I5, where they are provided with push-button fasteners 5I, the one element of which is carried by the strips 50 and the other element of which is mounted in walls I5. The dimensions are such that these strips 5U are pulled tight when the fore-end of the floor 44 of the heel portion II vertically abuts the rear end 45 of the sole I 9 and when the buttons 5| are fastened. On the other hand, merely by grasping in ones fingers the rearwardly projecting rear ends of the strips 50 on either side of the shoe the buttons may be instantly released and the heel portion dropped as hitherto described to release the shoe from the foot.

The outer lower edges 52 of the molded main body of the heel I3 are grooved all the way around, on each the front wall I6, the side walls, and the rear walls. Snapped over the bottom 46 and into these grooves is the complementally formed upper edge flange 53 of a flexible and elastic, removable and replaceable heel pad 54.

Interiorly of both the heel portion I I and the vamp portion I there is or may be provided in the corners between the vamp and heel walls l2 and I and the sole I9 and iloor 44 any suitable lining, filling and shaping material such as indicated at 55 in each of Figures 2, 3 and 4. These materials are, of course, divided in the vertical plane 56 of the abutting parts 45, 44 and appropriately treated at this point of division to insure accurate meeting without deterioration of their abutting portions during use.

Ihe advantages of my new shoe construction are many. Outstanding among them are the following:

The shoe may be much more cheaply constructed than leather and fabric shoes as ordinarily made, jointly for the reasons that molding of plastic material and cementing of such pliable material as is used in conjunction therewith eliminates sewing and special forming during sewing, and the required quantity of expensive pliable material like leather and special fabrics is a minimum.

Utilization of plastic material improves durability of the shoe by improving the wearing qualities of both the rear heel walls 42 and the toe 23, effectively providing against scuffing of the same.

The facility with which provision may be made for removable and replaceable soles and heels is also an outgrowth of the use of plastic materials.

There should be mentioned in this connection, incidentally, too, not only the wide range of choice of colors and color tones which molded plastic provides, but also the preservation of finish and polish during use.

Outstandingly, however, the molded plastic construction serves the purposes of effecting hinging together of the vamp and heel portions l0 and II for most eficient, quick action for putting on and taking olf of shoes. The hinge joint becomes entirely concealed, neat and effective, a thoroughly eflicient mechanical device. Without coniiicting with the full application and use of pliable material in the vamp, it insures close-fitting, stable jointing of the two portions. The joint never changes from its ac- Eli ' very new may in one or several instances be the source of descriptive and claim terminology which fall short of fully expressing the generic spirit. Applicants invention should none the less be protected to him by the appended claims in the fullness of this generic spirit.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe comprising a sole of moldable plastic material and an upper, the lower edge of which upper is extended downwardly over the lateral edges of the sole and beneath the under edges of the same where it is secured to the sole, in which the Linder edge of the sole is rabbeted for the thickness of the lower edge of the upper and the lower edge is secured in the rabbet, in combination with an overlying toe wall of plastic material molded integrally with the sole and having its rear edge rabbeted on its upper side, the front edge cf the upper being secured therein, the said latter rabbet being surmounted by an ornamental bead adjoining the shoulder of the rabbet.

2. A shoe comprising a sole portion of moldable plastic material and an upper, the lower edge of which upper is extended downwardly over the lateral edges of the sole and beneath the'under edges of the same where it is secured to the sole. together with a toe portion molded integrally with the sole, the said upper terminating at the rear edge of the toe portion in an overlap therewith on an outer toe wall surface which emanates from the under portion of the sole to which the upper is secured, and in which shoe there is formed in the edges of the sole and the toe to which the upper is secured one continuous rabbet over both the sole and toe to receive the secured edges of the upper.

JOHN P. TARBOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,776 Beattie Oct. 1, 1889 474,574 Bruzon May 10, 1892 1,081,678 Langerak Dec. 16, 1913 1,516,305 Pierce et al. Nov. 18, 1924 1,622,860 Cutler Mar. 29, 1927 2,199,713 Perugia May 7, 1940 2,239,206 Tietig Apr. 22, 1941 2,302,167 Austin Nov. 17, 1942 2,303,431 Brophy Dec. l, 1942 2,349,374 Pym May 23, 1944 2,403,442 Klaus July 9, 1946 2,429,354 Glass Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 769,952 France June 18, 1934 

